Ray D’Arcy RTÉ Departure Disappointment – The Irish Times

Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text, focusing on the key data about Ray D’Arcy‘s departure from RTÉ:

Ray D’Arcy has left RTÉ Radio 1 after 11 years.

* Sudden Departure: His departure was unexpected, with many RTÉ staff learning of it while his show was on air.
* Contract Dispute: Discussions about renewing his contract (which expired at the end of the year) broke down, leading him to sever ties with the station.
* Show & Role: he presented “The Ray D’Arcy Show” on RTÉ Radio 1 since Febuary 2015, a midweek programme.
* RTÉ’s Response: RTÉ thanked him for his contribution but stated his show is not part of their future plans.
* Achievements Highlighted: RTÉ acknowledged his show’s focus on mental health, addiction, Irish artists, and the popular “Run with Ray” series.
* Listenership: His show had approximately 182,000 daily listeners (a recent decrease of 10,000).
* Previous Roles: Before RTÉ Radio 1, he hosted a show on Today FM for 14 years and a Saturday night chat show on RTÉ 1 (2015-2019).
* Future plans: D’Arcy expressed a continued passion for radio and looks forward to future opportunities. RTÉ will announce plans for the slot soon, with Shay Byrne filling in temporarily.
* High Earner: he was the second-highest paid individual at RTÉ.